Perfect Chiefs rally for 26-17 win over Titans

Published 10:50 pm, Sunday, October 6, 2013

Jamaal Charles' 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth propelled the Chiefs to their first 5-0 start since 2003. Charles, a Texas-ex, rushed for 108 yards.

Jamaal Charles' 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth propelled the Chiefs to their first 5-0 start since 2003. Charles, a Texas-ex, rushed for 108 yards.

Photo: Mark Zaleski / Associated Press

Perfect Chiefs rally for 26-17 win over Titans

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Being perfect is what matters most in the NFL, as Chiefs coach Andy Reid knows only too well.

No matter how ugly some of those wins might be.

Jamaal Charles scored a 1-yard touchdown with 6:23 left, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the Tennessee Titans 26-17 on Sunday.

“We are 5-0, and we're not ashamed of that,” Reid said. “We also know that we've got a ton of room to improve, and it's important that we continue to do that.”

The Chiefs (5-0) are off to their best start since 2003, when they won their first nine games. This win came despite blowing a 13-0 halftime lead in this early AFC showdown between these surprising teams bouncing back after losing seasons, and Charles called this a special win.

“I am speechless right now,” said Charles, a Texas-ex. “This team is very blessed to be 5-0 right now.

“Nobody expected us to be 5-0.”

The Titans (3-2) couldn't have been more out of synch in the first half with Ryan Fitzpatrick starting for Jake Locker sidelined with his sprained right hip. He went three-and-out on his first five series before guiding Tennessee to 17 straight points in the second half.

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Charles put the Chiefs ahead to stay 20-17. He finished with 50 of his 108 yards on 22 carries coming in the fourth quarter on 11 carries. The Chiefs also intercepted Fitzpatrick twice in the final 6:14. Ryan Succop kicked four field goals, including a 48-yarder.

The Titans had one last chance needing to score twice and sent Rob Bironas out for a 32-yard field goal. But Bironas missed wide right, and time expired.

“The bottom line is we found a way back into that game and had an opportunity to go up by more than four, and we didn't do that,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said.

Kansas City heads home for a three-game stretch, though the Chiefs had plenty of support in Nashville.

“I thought the fans controlled that lower bowl there, and we heard them, and we appreciate all that support that they were able to give us, especially down the stretch there,” Reid said.

The Chiefs and Titans came in tied atop the NFL with a plus-9 turnover margin. Kansas City forced three turnovers and turned those into 13 points.